AUTO-SIGHTS. 
437 
ble of such manipulation as to give the necessary corrections. One 
of these three conditions must be fulfilled, or practical success in firing 
at a rapidly moving target could not be expected. I have explained* 
that verticality is not essential to accurate practice at a fixed target, 
or when firing over a small arc of training. A limitation of this kind 
was* however, clearly inadmissable if the auto-sight was to be of real 
to the Garrison Artillery, and the most careful consideration was, 
therefore, bestowed upon the problem of adjustment. 
Practical experience of a varied kind was so far shown that sufficient 
verticality can be secured to give admirable shooting. In my paper on 
Auto-Sighting ”, I gave some results of rapid fire with a 4*/' quick- 
firing gun. The Director-General of Ordnance has very kindly per¬ 
mitted the publication of some further figures. (See Appendix A.) 
Independent trials of my auto-sights have taken place at four widely 
dispersed stations with results such as these and in not a single case 
has any special levelling or adjusting device been employed. In prac¬ 
tice, which after all is the real test, the terrible errors which Major 
Hopkins shows to be possible have never arisen. To all officers who 
might well feel staggered by the possibility of an error of 1,512 yards 
in 4,000 yards, I venture earnestly to commend a study of the actual 
results obtained. 
This, however, is not all. I am well aware that a bad foundation 
has to be reckoned with, and that displacement of the axis of motion 
of a mounting may occur. This is provided for, though I am not at 
liberty to explain the means. 
Conditions (2) and (3) can be fulfilled, and experience will show 
which of two absolutely different mechanical arrangements is best suit¬ 
ed for the requirements of the garrison gunner. Meanwhile I ask him 
to regard the figures at his disposal as evidence of what the auto-sight 
has already done, and to trust his new adjunct. Still better results 
will be obtained when the use of the sight has become familiar. The 
verticality of the axis question is a bugbear which, like others of the 
species, shrivels when one goes up to it. I believe it is not too much 
to say that auto-sighting will add 50% to the efficiency of the fire of 
coast artillery. 
• R.A.I. “ Proceedings/* Vol. XXVI., No. 8, “ Auto-Sighting.” By Colonel 8ir G. 8. Clarke, K.C.M.G., 
F.R.8., BiE. 
